Board Building for Iconography Workshop

Board Building in Traditional Iconography refers to not just cutting and preparing the wood, sometimes with raised borders, but also a day-long process of applying “gesso”, a mixture of rabbit-skin glue and calcium carbonate. The result is the board on which traditional egg-tempera icons are painted.

Though it takes time to make, it is really the only surface on which it is possible to both hold the many layers of paint and stand the test of time by not cracking, warping, etc. All icons throughout history, as well as Renaissance Art before the popularization of oil paint, were painted on traditionally gessoed surfaces such as this. Because of the patience and time required, an argument can also be made that board building is a valuable part of the spiritual presentation for painting, or “writing” an icon. As with applying paint in iconography, applying the gesso is a “prayer of the hands.”

Though not a required prerequisite, this class can be used to build the board for upcoming Iconography Workshops (Fall or Spring) or either of the levels of Iconography Apprenticeship (Year 1 or Year 2). It is strongly recommended before Iconography Apprenticeship Year 2. (Note that the cost of the hand-gessoed board the student would need to purchase for Year 2 is the same or more than the price of this class.) Once the class is taken, most students will be able to build as many boards as they want on their own, without taking the workshop again.

Student Expectations

• As well as being available during the weekday evenings (except Thursday, when the board needs to dry), the student must be gessoing all day on Saturday, as all the layers must be applied in one day in order to adhere to each other.
• The course materials are extensive, especially with regard to household and hardware-store type supplies. Please see the course materials tab and video with additional explanation.
• An adult should be paired with a school-aged student of any age to help with gathering supplies and cutting the board to size before class, or finding someone to do so. The adult should be available, though not necessarily continuously present, for problem-solving during the all-day Saturday class.

Enrollment Restrictions

• Patience, fine motor skills, and an ability to follow directions closely are required for this class
• Though no artistic training is expected or required, experience and skill in another hands-on skill is an indicator of success in this class. Examples would include proficiency in cooking or baking, gardening, woodworking, home improvement, or ceramics. Please email the instructor if you have questions about whether you or your student are ready for this class.

For more about Mrs. Sider-Rose’s process, please see www.immanuelicons.org.

Syllabus

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Overview Video

1. Overview of all the classes (0.00)
   • The classes as listed on the St. Raphael website
   • The difference between the Workshops, the Apprenticeships, and the Summer Camp
2. Description of the different offerings in more detail (2:32)
   • World Iconography Camp, (2:35)
   • Apprenticeship (9:00)
   • Age requirements for all the classes, including Workshops (11:40)
3. Summer Board Building Workshop (12:27)

Please e-mail the instructor if you have any questions about the right class for you or your student: rsiderrose.raphaelschool@gmail.com